The most ethical Congress ever combined with the most transparent White House in history are making deals to pass a fundamental reshaping of the American health care industry before any of us get a look at it:
Top Democrats on Capitol Hill have reached tentative accord on a budget blueprint that would ensure President Barack Obama's health-care initiative cannot be filibustered in the Senate, congressional aides said... Top lawmakers are working on legislation to widen access to health care, covering the 46 million Americans not now covered by insurance. The initiative is a top Obama goal, and Democrats in the House and Senate are vowing to begin moving legislation this summer. However, the measures are controversial. They come with big potential price tags, and potential business mandates on insurance coverage that could prove costly. Passage would be particularly difficult under normal Senate rules, which would require support from 60 senators in order to block a likely filibuster delay from Republicans. And many Republicans are already threatening to filibuster, especially if the legislation creates a public health plan that competes with private insurers. Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D., Mont.) is hopeful of reaching bipartisan accord on health. But if he fails, the just-negotiated budget would allow Democrats to overcome a filibuster because it puts health care under a procedure called "reconciliation," which protects it from procedural delays and means it requires just 51 votes to pass.
Yes, let's make sure that sucker sails on through without any consideration of unintended consequences, without reading the bill, without proper rules for spending money or proper oversight. That worked so well with TARP. And, at an possible $1.5 trillion cost over 10 years, the opportunities for fraud and waste will be ever so much larger! Full steam ahead!